Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has mobilised about 500 infection prevention and control (IPC) alums and media fellows to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola and other public health emergencies.

The initiative aims to improve early detection strengthen screening and triage protect healthcare workers and promote accurate public information to prevent transmission.

Speaking at a virtual IPC Alumni Assembly on Friday NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris urged trained professionals to apply their expertise to early detection and containment stressing that healthcare facilities must prepare before suspected cases arrive.

‘We want active containment. We don’t want to be passive. We want to go at it with all that we have’ he said.

Idris represented by Dr Tochi Okwor Head of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the NCDC identified population density urbanisation and mobility as factors that could complicate containment if suspected cases were not promptly detected.

He warned that Ebola symptoms could resemble those of malaria and other common infections increasing the risk of delayed diagnosis and exposure among healthcare workers and patients.

He urged facilities to strengthen screening and triage maintain standard precautions use personal protective equipment (PPE) based on assessed risk and promptly report suspected cases.

‘Hand hygiene and risk-based PPE are non-negotiable’ he said.

Idris also urged IPC professionals to identify gaps in protective equipment isolation facilities environmental cleaning and referral systems. He said the NCDC would engage state commissioners for health and IPC focal persons to encourage greater use of trained professionals.

The assembly held under the theme ‘One Network Many Actions’ was supported by DRASA Health Trust the Centre for Infection Control and Patient Safety (CICAPS) and the Media Epidemiology Infodemiology and Social Behaviour Change/Risk Communication Fellowship (MEDIA-EIS).

Ms Niniola Williams Managing Director of DRASA Health Trust outlined three priority activities for participating facilities: refresher training on Ebola and IPC; strengthening and practising screening and triage procedures for five consecutive days; and assessing facility readiness using an approved checklist based on the national IPC scorecard.

She said the activities would help facilities identify weaknesses test procedures and improve preparedness using available resources while seeking management support for additional supplies.

The exercises were scheduled to begin on October 26 with a review meeting planned for the last week of November.

Prof. Sade Ogunsola Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and a key figure in developing Nigeria’s Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) programme said the 2014 Ebola outbreak exposed gaps in facility leadership professional training and healthcare worker protection.

She recalled that the outbreak prompted efforts to develop a structured competency-based IPC programme with support from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ogunsola said infection prevention must remain a routine responsibility rather than a response activated only during emergencies.

‘IPC is really about the routine I would say the boring work we do in healthcare facilities every day where like soldiers you prepare for war in peacetime’ she said.

She urged alums to update their knowledge mentor colleagues and strengthen infection prevention across primary secondary and tertiary health facilities.

On her part Ms Racheal Abujah a public health correspondent with the News Agency of Nigeria called for stronger collaboration between IPC professionals and journalists to translate technical guidance into clear practical public information.

She proposed simplifying approved guidance amplifying expert voices relaying public concerns to response teams and reporting on healthcare worker safety.

‘IPC protects people in healthcare settings; effective communication helps extend that protection to communities’ she said.

Participants also raised concerns about inadequate resources including triage stations and handwashing facilities.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated a committee to develop a framework for the establishment of specialised autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to expand access to diagnosis treatment and research.

TETFund’s Executive Secretary Sonny Echono inaugurated the committee in Abuja saying the proposed centres would be located in selected universities’ medical schools.

He said the initiative would build on TETFund’s Special High Impact Intervention for medical schools and provide early diagnosis treatment rehabilitation research and professional training while supporting families and caregivers.

Echono announced that the centres were being considered for funding under the proposed 2027 TETFund Special Intervention subject to the committee’s recommendations available resources and necessary approvals.

The TETFund boss urged the committee members to identify suitable host institutions based on geographical spread existing facilities workforce capacity and sustainability with realistic cost estimates and implementation plans.

The committee’s chairperson and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences Ondo Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe said the initiative would address delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialised autism care.

The vice-chancellor identified early intervention research professional training community inclusion and sustainability as key priorities stressing the need for a multidisciplinary workforce that includes paediatricians psychologists speech and language therapists occupational therapists and special educators.

She also called for collaboration with schools primary healthcare facilities parents’ associations and families to promote early identification and reduce stigma.

The paediatrician warned that long-term financing equipment maintenance and monitoring must be built into the centres’ plans.

‘Our success must not be measured merely by the number of centres established but by the number of individuals and families whose lives are positively transformed’ Adejuyigbe said.

The committee is expected to recommend host institutions develop operational standards and cost estimates and propose implementation schedules and a monitoring framework.

The Directorate of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has declared its readiness to mobilise at least five million votes to secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming 2027 presidential election.

Speaking yesterday after the second inaugural leadership meeting of the directorate in Abuja the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities Muhammad Isa said the PWD community remained an integral pillar of the current administration.

He hailed President Tinubu for establishing a dedicated presidential office for special needs and integrating persons with disabilities into party and government structures at the federal and state levels.

‘I want to use this medium to commend President Tinubu for creating the Directorate for Persons with Disabilities in line with the belief that no one should be left behind. The community of persons with disabilities is an integral part of this administration.

‘APC is the only party that has prioritised the rights of the disability community in Nigeria. Currently almost 29 states have signed and established agencies to safeguard the lives of persons with disabilities. The community is ready to come out in force and re-elect President Tinubu so he can continue his good reforms.’

Addressing questions on voter strength and electoral logistics Isa said the political weight of the disability community extended beyond standard estimates.

He said engagements were ongoing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address accessibility and voting rights at polling units nationwide.

‘To win an election is all about strategy and organisation and we are well-organised. From our directorate we are going to mobilise at least five million votes for President Tinubu.

‘We have been engaging with INEC to ensure accessibility in the electoral process-how wheelchair users visually impaired voters and others can cast their ballots seamlessly so that no person with a disability is disenfranchised. We are a strong political mass and we are ready to deliver’ Isa said.

APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities and Co-Director of the Directorate Aare Durotolu Bankole reiterated the party’s confidence ahead of the general election declaring that rival political parties lacked the structure to challenge the ruling party.

He said: ‘We are committed to putting in our best to ensure the re-election of the President and all APC candidates comes with a big vote margin. In APC we are confident. We want to show clearly to the world that APC is the only ready party in Nigeria. Others know they are not ready and cannot win this election; they will only make media noise. We are here to strategise and tell the world that in 2027 there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.’

Highlighting gender inclusion within the campaign hierarchy the Deputy Director for Women with Disabilities Lois Auta who is also a board member of the Maryam Abacha National Centre for Women Development lauded the party for giving women with disabilities a prominent seat at the decision-making table.

‘President Tinubu has done well for persons with disabilities including women. He established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and work is ongoing on the Reserved Seats Bill for women and PWDs. This is the first time a political party is having a dedicated woman with disability in the PCC Directorate leadership. We are proud of this inclusiveness. We have the numerical strength and the political power to ensure the re-election of President Tinubu.’

The meeting was attended by stakeholders including the Directorate Secretary Misbahu Didi and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Ayuba Gufwan underscoring the party’s organised structure to mobilise disability support nationwide.

The support base of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027 general election has continued to swell up with Olujonwo Obasanjo son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo formally aligning with the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS)-popularly known as ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Movement.

He joined the movement to advocate policy continuity and support President Tinubu’s reform agenda.

Olujonwo who currently serves as Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Housing President of Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) and President of Project One Nigeria announced his decision at a news conference in Abuja where the leadership of the advocacy group welcomed him into their fold.

Speaking about his political background Olujonwo dismissed perceptions of being a newcomer to the ruling party emphasising his long-standing allegiance.

‘I’ve been in the APC since 2014. I was there when my father hosted the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu to form the movement. I’m not new to the party’ he said.

Explaining his decision to join TMS Olujonwo noted that several key achievements and economic policies of the current administration have not been adequately communicated to the public leaving room for distortion and misinformation.

‘There’s a lot of noise out there and people are distorting what’s going on. ASUU has had no strike. Students have access to loans. Nigeria has become a massive construction site and an investors’ haven again. These are things we need to promote’ Olujonwo said.

He stressed that effective public communication must go beyond political slogans to clearly articulate policy objectives implementation processes and direct benefits to citizens.

Welcoming him to the movement the National Coordinator of TMS and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Abdullahi highlighted the historical resonance of Olujonwo’s joining linking it to the reformist legacy of his family.

‘You grew up in a family that led the second wave of reforms in Nigeria. Telecommunications liberalisation banking reforms-these laid a solid foundation. Being raised in that family you understand what reforms mean’ Abdullahi said.

He said political instability and frequent policy reversals undermined investors’ confidence and disrupted long-term national planning.

‘We are building investors’ confidence. The naira is becoming strong. Our stock exchange is one of the fastest-growing. Dangote Refinery is a game changer. If we start reversing these policies we’ll go back to where we were’ Abdullahi added emphasising that while TMS supports governance continuity beyond 2027 its principal aim is strengthening sustainable institutions.

Echoing these sentiments the Director-General of TMS and former Obidient coordinator Marcel Ngogbehei an engineer praised Obasanjo family’s historic contributions to economic growth particularly external debt relief and market liberalisation.

‘We’re happy you have decided to take this step. Your father was one of those who revolutionised this country. The debt was paid off and major innovations were introduced in liberalising the economy’ Ngogbehei said.

Ngogbehei explained that TMS was formed to foster evidence-based civic engagement correct misconceptions about ongoing reforms and elevate public debate above mere political rhetoric.

‘This is not about propaganda. We will engage respectfully factually and transparently’ Ngogbehei said.

TMS Foundation operates nationwide through specialised directorates covering research policy analysis strategic communication and grassroots mobilisation.

The organisation reiterates its commitment to using digital platforms town halls and data-driven fact-checking to counter misinformation and encourage constructive public participation in governance.

An Nigerian-American entrepreneur and community leader Dr Moruph Akanbi Osuolale has been supporting individuals and families through educational scholarships medical assistance and mentorship.

Osuolale’s support includes scholarships covering tuition accommodation and living expenses assistance with medical bills and guidance for young people seeking educational and professional advancement.

Onn why he embarked on this Osuolale said: ‘Your background should not determine your future. Stay focused on your education work hard remain determined and use every opportunity to build a better life for yourself and make a positive difference in the lives of others.’

Born and raised in Lagos Osuolale combined education with various jobs public service and street trading to support himself and his family. During the 1980s and 1990s he worked as a barman served at the Daily Times of Nigeria and held positions as a pension officer tenement rate officer and revenue collector at Lagos Island Local Government.

He also taught Mathematics at Paramount Institute Lagos Island preparing students for the General Certificate Examination (GCE) Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations.

A product of Salvation Army Primary School Ebute-Metta Osuolale distinguished himself in debating competitions before pursuing accounting studies at PIE Institute Jibowu Lagos and Business Administration at Kwara State Polytechnic Lagos.

He later founded Merrimack Valley Health Solutions LLC in the United States in 2017. An alumnus of Midwestern University he is a member of the Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) and Phi Beta Kappa honour societies. He also served as class president at Kennedy Global Business School and received the Massachusetts Senior Foundation Scholar recognition from the Massachusetts State Senate.

His commitment to supporting education healthcare and personal development reflects his belief that success should extend beyond individual achievements to improving the lives of others.

Osuolale’s journey from humble beginnings in Lagos to entrepreneurship in the U.S. highlights the importance of perseverance education and hard work while his philanthropy demonstrate how success can create opportunities for others.

Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Seyi Makinde has pledged to establish a four-year transitional government of national unity if elected in 2027.

He promised to reset Nigeria’s security architecture economy and political system.

He also predicted that the APM would win the election and that its national leader and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed would become Senate President.

Makinde who is the Oyo State governor spoke yesterday in Akure at the party’s Southwest town hall meeting.

He rejected ‘turn-by-turn nepotism’ and defended his candidacy despite President Bola Tinubu’s emergence from the same zone saying the region would have to choose between them.

Mohammed described Makinde as a tested and trusted candidate and promised that his administration would create jobs for unemployed youths.

He warned those working against the party to desist from sowing division saying the APM would take lawful measures against them.

The vice-presidential candidate Lawal Daura said the meeting showed encouraging support for Makinde.

He urged members to guard against infiltration and promised that an APM government would ease hardship and improve citizens’ welfare.

National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle urged Nigerians to look beyond political religious and ethnic differences and demand better governance.

He said only Makinde could fix the country from the damage done by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Makinde urged voters to reject nepotism political exclusion and a system in which leadership and development were treated as entitlements.

He said Nigeria needed a government focused on productivity infrastructure and shared prosperity rather than ethnic or regional considerations.

‘We do not want turn-by-turn nepotism. We also do not want a situation where someone says ‘I will execute projects in my zone because it is my turn” he said.

He argued that such an approach would leave projects unfinished and prevent the country from deriving value from its resources.

Makinde cited his administration’s budget performance in Oyo State saying it had risen from between 28 and 30 per cent when he assumed office to more than 70 per cent with the state sustaining a January-to-December budget cycle.

He called for a productive economy that would reduce dependence on federal allocations arguing that government should tax prosperity rather than poverty.

‘When they are productive they become prosperous. When they become prosperous tax their prosperity. Do not tax poverty’ he said.

On security he promised a comprehensive overhaul to enable economic activities to continue beyond 8pm.

He also pledged to address infrastructure deficits and the concerns of young people and women.

Makinde accused the ruling party of using its influence to undermine opposition parties.

‘There is no democracy in a one-party system’ he said urging the Federal Government to allow opposition parties to operate freely.

Accompanied by Daura and Mohammed Makinde said two presidential candidates from the South-West would not be unusual.

He recalled the 1999 election in which the zone produced Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

‘And heaven did not fall. As a matter of fact what Southwest did was to present two of their finest two of their best candidates for Nigeria to choose from. Is there anything wrong with that this time around?’ he asked.

He said voters should be allowed to choose on merit rather than regional considerations and that the region should not be restricted to a single candidate.

Makinde said his Reset Nigeria Agenda would focus on economic recovery education security prosperity and the socio-political environment. ‘I am a reset agent’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

‘Be a reset agent get your PVC and we will reset Nigeria. We want a Nigeria that works for everybody. It is not Nigeria that works for very few’ he said.

Mohammed said the party chose Makinde for his experience and vision and that the APM was ready to offer Nigerians an alternative to the current administration.

He urged supporters not to be intimidated by the political environment insisting that change required commitment and hard work rather than campaign rhetoric.

On those he accused of trying to infiltrate the party he said: ‘Some people out of desperation have already started or resorted to trying to infiltrate our ranks to cause some kind of destruction.

‘But I say to them they are late. And I am warning if they do not desist we will definitely take measures as allowed by the law to make sure that we shame them. This is not an empty threat.’

He urged members to scrutinise those seeking to associate with them and resist attempts to distract them from their political objectives.

Daura similarly warned against infiltration and internal distractions.

Dantalle said citizens must take responsibility for fixing the nation. ‘It is high time to change the narrative; the will of the people must be done. Nobody will fix Nigeria for us unless we rise to fix the country by ourselves’ he said.

The Federal Government has pledged to preserve the history and legacy of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) including documenting Nigerian troops who died during peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Minister of Defence Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd.) gave the assurance on Friday after receiving a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by Maj.-Gen. Ohifeme Ejimai (Rtd.) at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

Musa said the government would ensure that the sacrifices of Nigerian military personnel who paid the supreme price during the regional peacekeeping missions were not forgotten.

He also pledged to complete ongoing efforts to document outstanding records casualties and historical assets associated with ECOMOG to preserve the force’s legacy for future generations.

The minister acknowledged the enormous human and financial resources Nigeria committed to the regional peacekeeping initiative stressing the need to preserve its history and recognise the contributions of those who served.

Earlier Ejimai briefed the minister on the veterans’ group’s activities and the status of surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans.

He said the veterans remained willing to contribute to national development and security while urging the Ministry of Defence to address existing gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s history.

The retired general also called for the establishment of a dedicated remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian troops who lost their lives in operations to restore peace and stability in West Africa.

According to the veterans the proposed remembrance day would allow the country to recognise the sacrifices of fallen personnel and preserve their contributions to regional peace and security.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) established ECOMOG in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force.

Driven largely by Nigerian leadership and troop contributions the force played a major role in restoring constitutional order protecting civilians and stabilising countries affected by violent conflict particularly Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The veterans’ visit comes amid renewed efforts to preserve the institutional memory of Nigeria’s military engagements and recognise the contributions of personnel who served in regional and international peacekeeping operations.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that the 2026 flood has claimed 245 lives displaced 214996 person and affected 673350 across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 States.

NEMA disclosed the figures at the National Emergency Coordination Forum (NECF) held to review ongoing flood response efforts strengthen inter-agency coordination and harmonise preparedness measures ahead of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.

The Director-General of NEMA Mrs. Zubaida Umar said the magnitude of the flooding underscored the urgent need to review ongoing interventions identify response gaps and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to address the humanitarian needs of affected communities.

Umar who was represented by the Director of Planning Research and Forecasting Dr. Godwin Topikor emphasised the importance of heightened surveillance timely information sharing and coordinated preparedness against emerging public health threats.

She noted that disaster-affected communities could face increased health vulnerabilities due to displacement poor sanitation and limited access to essential services.

She stated the need for relevant institutions to harmonise climate forecasts assess potential risks and translate early warning information into practical anticipatory actions to reduce the possible effects of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon on lives livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

She noted that effective disaster management required proactive multisectoral approach anchored on early warning preparedness risk reduction timely response and sustainable recovery.

Umar urged participating institutions to strengthen operational collaboration eliminate duplication of efforts and prioritise the protection of vulnerable populations particularly women children older persons and persons with disabilities.

The forum featured technical presentations and discussions on the current flood situation and cholera updates the anticipated El Niño phenomenon and its hydrological implications as well as global and regional climate outlooks.

Participants also reviewed sectoral preparedness and response priorities covering food security health education water sanitation and hygiene nutrition protection emergency shelter logistics security and information management.

The Deputy Director of Planning Research and Forecasting Mr. Tony Ephraim highlighted the importance of effective coordination and collaboration among emergency management stakeholders.

He encouraged participants to identify operational gaps improve information sharing and develop actionable recommendations to strengthen national disaster preparedness and response.

The forum had in attendance representatives of Ministries of Health and Social Welfare Environment Information and National Orientation and Education; the Armed Forces of Nigeria; the Nigeria Police Force; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency; the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Others institutions represented are; Federal Road Safety Corps Federal Fire Service Nigerian Red Cross Society Society for Family Health World Meteorological Organization and other humanitarian and development partners.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to inaugurate an 81-kilometre stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) formally kicks off its presidential campaign for the 2027 general elections in Kaduna State.

The road built with reinforced concrete pavement and equipped with streetlights is part of the administration’s infrastructure development programme in the Northwest where the Federal Government is targeting 4084 kilometres of roads.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga disclosed this on Friday in a post on his verified X handle @aonanuga highlighting major road and railway projects undertaken or being pursued by the Tinubu administration across the geopolitical zone.

According to Onanuga the Federal Government has completed 348 kilometres of inherited and newly initiated road projects in the Northwest while another 1811 kilometres of road projects are partially completed.

He said the 81-kilometre concrete section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway which President Tinubu is expected to inaugurate during Saturday’s campaign rally formally is already lit making nighttime travel along the corridor easier.

‘Kaduna is getting set to host the first rally of the APC Presidential campaign on Saturday.

‘Those travelling by road from Abuja to Kaduna in the night will notice the road lighting for an 81-kilometre stretch on a solid concrete highway built by the Tinubu administration’ Onanuga stated.

Providing details of the administration’s road infrastructure interventions the presidential spokesman said substantial work had been completed on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway one of the country’s major transportation corridors linking the Federal Capital Territory with the Northwest.

He said 118 kilometres of Lot 1 of the highway had been completed including 81 kilometres built with continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) which the President would inaugurate during the Kaduna rally.

He said another 164 kilometres of Lot 2 of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway had also been completed using reinforced concrete pavement.

Onanuga also identified the 77-kilometre Kaduna-Pambeguwa road among the region’s completed projects adding that President Tinubu would formally inaugurate it during the APC presidential campaign rally in Jos Plateau State.

Beyond the completed projects the presidential aide outlined several ongoing road developments including sections of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway designated as the second legacy infrastructure project of the Renewed Hope administration.

He said work on the Sokoto section covering 120 kilometres of dual carriageway (equivalent to 240 kilometres of road) had reached 60 per cent completion.

The Kebbi section of the same highway covering 254 kilometres of dual carriageway (equivalent to 508 kilometres of road) had reached 40 per cent completion according to the presidential spokesman.

Onanuga also highlighted the 350-kilometre Sokoto-Zamfara-Zaria dual carriageway equivalent to 700 kilometres of road which is being executed in four sections.

He said the project had attained an average completion level of 30 per cent across the four sections.

Other ongoing projects listed by the presidential aide include the 153-kilometre Kano-Kongolam road the 132-kilometre Zaria-Hunkuyi road and the 123-kilometre Mando-Birnin Gwari road.

Onanuga also said the administration completed 149 emergency road projects across the Northwest though he did not provide their locations or financial details.

Turning to railway infrastructure the presidential spokesman identified two major metropolitan rail projects in Kaduna and Kano states that involve substantial investment.

He listed the Kaduna Metropolitan Rail Line valued at $865 million among the administration’s railway infrastructure interventions in the region.

He also highlighted a light rail project in the Kano metropolitan area valued at more than ?1 trillion as another major component of the Federal Government’s transportation development programme.

The presidential aide however did not specify the implementation stages or expected completion dates of the two metropolitan railway projects.

The disclosure comes ahead of Saturday’s APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna where the ruling party is expected to showcase the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure investments and other government programmes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Arewa Think Tank have mourned the death of the National Leader of Afenifere Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti.

Both organisations described his passing as a monumental loss to Nigeria and an end to an extraordinary chapter in the nation’s political history.

The two northern groups in separate condolence messages issued in Kaduna described the late Yoruba elder statesman as a distinguished patriot principled nationalist and courageous advocate of democratic governance justice national unity and progressive politics.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Prof. Tukur A. Muhammad-Baba the ACF said Fasoranti’s death has robbed Nigeria of one of its most respected elder statesmen whose lifelong commitment to good governance and the welfare of the people remained exemplary.

The forum described the late Afenifere leader as a quintessential nationalist politician and community leader who devoted almost his entire life to the pursuit of progressive ideals and the advancement of Nigeria’s democratic development.

According to ACF Fasoranti’s century-long life afforded him the opportunity to witness Nigeria’s political evolution including the independence struggle the First Republic the civil war successive military administrations and the country’s continuing democratic experiment.

The forum stated: ‘Living to mark 100 years Pa Fasoranti’s life of a century on earth enabled him to witness the best that Nigeria has had to offer even as he had lived to regret the nation’s missed opportunities for even greater achievements.’

ACF noted that despite the country’s political and developmental challenges Fasoranti remained steadfast in his advocacy for a better Nigeria describing him as an indefatigable fighter whose commitment to the welfare of his people and the nation never diminished.

It added that choosing him as the National Leader of Afenifere underscored his standing as a respected voice of reason and one of Nigeria’s principled and far-sighted leaders stressing that his death should be regarded as an opportunity to celebrate a life of remarkable service.

Similarly the Convener of Arewa Think Tank Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu described Fasoranti’s passing as a painful loss not only to the Yoruba nation and Afenifere but also to Nigerians across ethnic political and regional divides.

Yakubu recalled a memorable visit to the late elder statesman during which he and members of his delegation received a warm reception and benefited from his wealth of experience wisdom and knowledge.

‘I remember vividly our visit to him and the warm reception he gave us and words of wisdom and knowledge we got from him when he was alive’ Yakubu recalled adding that the encounter left an enduring impression on members of the delegation.

He described Fasoranti as a symbol of integrity selflessness courage and discipline whose contributions to democratic governance national cohesion and progressive politics would remain indelible in Nigeria’s political history.

‘Pa Reuben Fasoranti was more than a respected Yoruba leader; he was a Nigerian patriot whose life and convictions reflected the enduring values of integrity justice democratic principles and service to humanity. His death is a painful loss not only to the Yoruba nation and the Afenifere family but also to Nigeria as a whole’ Yakubu said.

The Arewa Think Tank Convener maintained that Fasoranti’s unwavering commitment to justice true federalism responsible leadership and national unity offered valuable lessons to contemporary political leaders particularly at a time when Nigeria required experienced voices to guide its democratic development.

‘He belonged to a generation that understood that nation-building requires sacrifice tolerance courage and a willingness to put the collective interest above personal considerations. His life reminds us that leadership is not measured by the positions we occupy but by the values we uphold and the positive impact we leave on society’ he stated.

Yakubu urged political leaders and public officeholders to honour Fasoranti’s memory by strengthening democratic institutions promoting national unity encouraging constructive dialogue and ensuring that public leadership remained anchored in integrity justice and accountability.

‘The most fitting tribute we can pay to Pa Reuben Fasoranti is to uphold the ideals he represented. His passing should remind us that Nigeria’s diversity is not a weakness but a strength that must be nurtured through mutual respect justice understanding and a shared commitment to the progress of our country’ he added.

Both ACF and Arewa Think Tank extended their condolences to the Fasoranti family the leadership and members of Afenifere the people of Ondo State the Yoruba nation and Nigerians generally praying for the peaceful repose of the departed elder statesman and strength for those mourning him. They maintained that although Fasoranti had departed at 100 his legacy of patriotism principled leadership and selfless service would continue to inspire generations of Nigerians.